With twenty-two years of experience in higher education and leadership education, I am ready to help you create the life you want.

BIO

I specialize in setting up college-bound students and their families for success. How did I land in this area? Well let me start with telling you a bit about my own journey…

The youngest of three kids, I grew up in Minocqua, WI. It was an idyllic location, growing up on a lake where we would water ski, fish, canoe, and enjoy time outdoors in a myriad of ways (at least when the mosquitoes weren’t attacking us). Following high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lived on the tenth floor of a large residence hall where one elevator went to every floor and the other elevator went to every other floor (odd floors only!). I enjoyed the sciences and so I joined the ranks of Badger alumni with a degree in mechanical engineering and a certificate in technical communications.

My first foray into a career found me moving to Milwaukee, WI where I worked for a Fortune 500 corporation. For three-and-a-half years I learned the business and moved up the ranks to become a technical sales engineer in South Bend, IN. But something just wasn’t right for me. I needed a change and so I left the technical sales world and relocated back to Madison, WI in December 2000. After taking a month to “figure things out” I decided that my next job would be something I enjoyed so much that I wouldn’t need to set an alarm clock. And, happily, I found it. Rutabaga is a family-owned business in Madison and I was welcomed into their retail family. It was a terrific experience and I ended up being with the business for many years as I transitioned from the retail floor to teaching kayak classes. You know, basically trying to make sure people don’t drown when their kayak flips over ;-)

Then my phone rang and my life changed overnight. My alma mater, UW-Madison, had an opening in Engineering Career Services. I had always desired to work on a college campus and this was too good of an opportunity to pass up! So in July 2000 I assumed the role of assistant director for the internship and cooperative education program. This was a fantastic fit for me, as I was able to work with engineering students in honing their resumes, cover letters, and broader life-design skills, while also working directly with employers who sought top-notch engineers for their teams.

In 2003, I was invited to meet with the associate dean in the College of Engineering (COE), another meeting that would change the path of my career. The COE had just built a new state-of-the-art center and I was offered the opportunity to become the director of the Engineering Student Leadership Center. It was another opportunity too good to pass up, not just because of the job itself, but also because of my supervisor. I didn’t know it at the time, but my supervisor became one of my most trusted mentors and close friends. She really taught me that strong leadership can include coaching, mentoring, and generally caring for a person’s growth. We worked well together and we shared a mutual passion for the growth of the students we served.

<DING> You’ve Got Mail

And… another course correction. A friend sent me an email with an opportunity at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. My girlfriend and I had visited Durango in 2003 while we were on a ski trip to a nearby resort. Never did we think we would move to a beautiful, Colorado mountain town but that’s exactly what we did in 2007 and I became the director of the Leadership Center at Fort Lewis College. A small, public institution (compared to UW-Madison), FLC boasts one of the most diverse student populations in the country. FLC is unique in that it offers a tuition waiver to Alaskan Native and Native American students from anywhere in the US. It is a beautiful, vibrant, and uniquely amazing campus. During my fifteen year tenure, all as a director, I took on a myriad of tasks ranging from supervising staff and teams from various departments including the Environmental Center and KDUR Community Radio. It’s also where I honed my skills in utilizing a coaching and mentoring mindset with my team. I worked with an amazing staff who showed up every day ready to make a difference in the lives of the students. We leaned on each other - supported each other - cheered on each other - and made our areas places where students did the same for one another.

All Good Things Come to an End

Fast forward 15 years - is it time for a change?

Yes - yes it was.

In August 2022, I left FLC and here I am. Why did I leave such a beautiful campus with amazing colleagues? Because my calling is to assist in a different way. I want to help students and their families through one of the most stressful, agonizing, and exciting decisions you will make - not just where to go to college, but how to be successful in college.

Are you ready? I’m ready. I’ll be your champion and help you create the college experience you want. YOU DESERVE IT.

Closing

My wife, Crystal, and I have lived in Durango, CO since 2007. We love the perfect four seasons, 300+ days of sunshine, and opportunity to explore the mountains and the desert of the southwest. Hiking, biking, kayaking, SUPing - we love being in the wild and usually bring our super mutt, Derby.